Vortex Diamondback RIP

W

William Suter

Well-known member
I mounted a what I thought was a new Diamondback on my 30-30 over the week end. I took it to the club Monday to sight it in. Well things didn't work out to well for me as I guess it wasn't in as good of condition as I thought. I've had it for a year and don't remember what it had been on so I assumed it was a good scope. First shot was high so I adjusted. Next two shots were close to center and almost touching. Forth went high a left, WHAT? Adjusted again now centered but way left, maybe 4". I gave the scope 16 clicks right, should be close now. Wrong, now its 4" right. So I cut the clicks in half and its still way right. Gave it a few more clicks and now its back 4" left. Figured after all this I'm dealing with a bad scope. Called Vortex and they're sending me shipping info and postage to send it in. Wish I'd have stopped sooner and saved the box of ammo I used up chasing a bad scope. Lesson learned.
 
A month ago, I was getting the 30-06 ready for my moose hunt, and the rifle had a Vortex Diamondback 4x12x40 on it. The scope is maybe 10 years old, and I did not shoot that rifle very much over the years.

Anyway, it was about like you described, shooting 5-6" right, make the adjustments, and POI did not change, plus I was at max horizontal adjustment. So I added some electrical tape to the inside, side, of the back ring and that gave me more adjustment, and now I'm shooting a bit left.

I adjust again for horizontal, and now am shooting 6-8" high. After another adjustment, and with the POI changing drastically, I changed scopes.

I've put it on the Hornet for now, and will shoot 'the square' and see how it performs.

Last week, I got my 270 ready for a deer hunt, and it was shooting very well. The scope is a Redfield, from 2002-2008 when Meade Instruments was having them made by L.O.W. in Japan. Very nice glass. The range session went well, so Monday, I head out for the hunt.

At dusk, I decide to look through the scope to see how bright it was in low light and find the crosshair is broken.

I've gone years and years, without any scope issues, and then to have 2 within a few weeks of each other sucks.

So, I'm keeping my eye open for Black Friday sales.
 
That's a common issue(at least for me with the DB's I have sighted in) on the upside the one's that I actually got zeroed held zero very well. You just couldn't count on dialing for a shot. More set it and forget it, as Bill said to save ammo. They don't dial accurately.
 
I have a few and never had an issue. In fact, I’m about to buy another. Can’t remember who told me this way back in the day, but after mounting every scope I tap both dials lightly but firmly before ever shooting. Never had an issue with any scope except for a few old ones where the reticle broke.
 
When I first started shooting, way back in 1963, my Dad and his buddies would always tap the dials lightly with a wooden screwdriver handle after any adjustments.

I suspect the older scopes did not react to adjustments like they do today.
 
I have two old early 1970's Redfields I got new. A 2 3/4x widefield on my 30-06 and a 1-4x on a 308. love both to pieces. Also though I had a couple Vortex's but, seem's only have one, a 2-7x Crossfire on my 243. Seems I did have a 4 1/2-14 on a rifle, 6.5-06 and had trouble with the adjustments also. Sent it in and, nope. Went and looked and it was a Leupold/Redfield 4 1/2-14 on my 6.5-06. Adjustments not working there either. Well no more Redfield scopes so I traded it for a set of bino's in the same price range. Then put a 2-7x Leupold/Redfield I had on the 6.5-06. Haven't had any trouble with it. Seem's I've heard stories about those Vortex Diamond backs before and while I think the best scope makers put out a dud now and then seem's the vortex's I've read about have all been Diamond backs. Got a feeling they might make a good 22 RF scope!
 
Its a lever action 30-30. One I picked up a few weeks ago. Supposedly unfired but who really knows. Accuracy was really bad at 100yds and seems as though I was chasing bullets from one side to the other so I assumed it was scope. Swapped scopes to a known good Leupold and had the same issues. I'm in the process of making sure things that should be tight are tight and loosening some things that are suppose to help accuracy. And...giving it a good cleaning. Going to try some 170 grain reloads next to see how they shoot. Also probably see how it groups at 50 yds instead of 100yds and work from there.
 
If it's a Remlin, check for barrel looseness and barrel channel in forestock. Otherwise if Marlin, take off the rail, clean everything and reinstall. Never had a winny clone.
 
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